During the summer of 1922, the following men endeavored to form a volunteer fire company in Port Monmouth: Henry Pulsch, Ernest Rutt, Percy De Grote, Lloyd Carhardt, Charles Meyers and George Burlew. It was through the inspiration of Ed Oakes and Tom Williams of Red Bank, NJ that this meeting was held as they spoke of the need and advantages of a volunteer fire company in community.In November, 1922 a meeting was held at the Port Monmouth School to incorporate the Port Monmouth Fire Co. No.1.Marcus Moller was elected President by acclamation and one ballot cast by the acting secretary, Louis Jensen. Thc Charter was signed by the following men: M. Moller, L. Jensen, H. DeGrote, Walter DeGrote, John Dowens, Charles Rutt, Sr., C. Meyers, Ben Mills, Arthur Aker and Jim Hepburn.
Various fund raising drives were undertaken and from the results of these the first fire truck was purchased at a cost of $2,500 and housed in a frame garage built by the men on a site purchased for $300.00 from the Cowalton Realty Company. The Ford truck was delivered July, 1923.
In 1926, it was decided a larger truck was needed and a Buffalo 500 gpm pumper was purchased and housed in Walter Walling's barn until an addition to the firehouse was completed.
The next event of note was the purchase of property, for site for a new firehouse. The lots on which the present firehouse stands were purchased from William Coe, in 1928. The firehouse was started in the fall of 1932, the total cost was $11,900.In the spring of 1933, the new firehouse was completed and occupied.
In 1940, a third piece of apparatus was purchased. It was a GMC truck equipped with 250 gpm pump, 750 ft. house bed, and flood lights. The first 1,000 gpm pumper, an Ahrens-Fox vehicle was bought in 1946 for $15,500. This truck passed its 1972 Underwriters test at 1,075 pm capacity.
Subsequently in 1958 the company purchased an American laFrance Pumper(750 gallon pumper). This truck had been the heart of fire fighting operation from 1958 until 1973. The truck was competely refurbished in late 1973.
On December 18, 1960 Port Monmouth Fire Company suffered a tragic loss. In the early morning hours a fire started in the upstairs hall. Before the fire was discovered and could be brought under control, damages of approximately $30,000 had been sustained. The building was renovated in 1961 at a cost of $50,000.00.
In 1965 construction was started for a new air conditioned addition which is now used as an entertainment and bingo hall. Mid February of 1967 the Company held its first $1,000.00 Bingo in the new hall and the Colonial Room became the center of fund raising operations.
With two of the three trucks in excess of 25 years of age and the firematic demands increasing significantly, a truck committee was formed in 1970 for the purpose of selecting an optimum vehicle to meet fire fighting needs for the next decade.
The selection was a 1,000 gpm pumper, with a 500 gpm deluge set, 2000 foot hose bed, high pressure booster unit and self- contained electrical generator system for exhaust fan and emergency lighting system. Seagrave Corporation was awarded the contract at a cost of $47,000 and the truck was delivered seventeen months later in March of 1973.
For more information and pictures about the Port Monmouth Fire Company, Please Click Here.